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Ohio Arts Council provides $22.7M to artists, programs

Editorials

Schools and communities that value and support the arts and arts education understand such things are not a luxury. The arts are essential. Fortunately, it appears state officials and lawmakers understand that, too. This year, the Ohio Arts Council has been supported to the degree that it was able to approve a record $22.7 million in arts grants — 935 of them to statewide artists and arts organizations. It is the largest single round of grants distributed to OAC funding applicants in the agency’s history. “On behalf of the board, the Ohio Arts Council thanks Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. ...

Campaign money flows more easily to incumbents

Columns

In political elections, money is the main reason for the success of candidates. The more you get, the better your chances for winning — and if you’re an incumbent with a big financial lead over your opponent, you’ve got a better than 98% chance of getting reelected. Political action committees, the driving force that funds congressional campaigns, are much more likely to give money to incumbents. In the two congressional races on the Nov. 5 ballot in the Mahoning Valley, there is evidence. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the incumbents — Republican Dave Joyce in the 14th ...

Ohio’s Tax Free Weekend stretched to 10 full days

Editorials

August arrives next week. And with it comes the waning days of summer vacation for local students. More so it seems nowadays with classes beginning earlier and earlier for many districts. Can you remember back when the school year did not start until after Labor Day? We do. Barely. Of course now is the time for parents, grandparents and guardians to get a jump on school shopping including supplies and clothing. Shoppers will be getting soon a little break. What used to be a Tax Free Weekend has been expanded to 10 days. Ohio sets aside at least three days each year (to include the ...

Columbiana County, Canfield fairs remain timeless treasures

Editorials

There’s no glitz, glamour or full-scale high-tech wizardry used to awe which seems to be needed — or felt is needed — in this day and age of providing entertainment. No fancy 21st century version whistles, horns or gimmicks are involved. No, the summer fairs in our area like the 179th Columbiana County Fair, which officially opens Monday, and the upcoming Canfield Fair, which opens August 28 for its 178th year over 353 sprawling acres, are two examples of what is right with our area. Fairs provide good, old-fashioned entertainment for the young, old and all in between. And you ...

TechCred is a valuable tool for our workforce

Editorials

As Ohio works to reinvent itself as the tech capital of the Midwest, officials understand there are many smart, hardworking Ohioans who need nothing but a little education and training to remain part of our evolving workforce. To their credit, the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation set out to help with its TechCred program. Since 2019 the program has awarded more than 100,000 credentials. “This milestone is a celebration of the hardworking Ohioans who have dedicated time and effort to learning new skills and earning the tech-focused credentials necessary to support ...

Wenstrup, Carey must protect dialysis patients

Letters to the Editor

To the editor: Every day, thousands of Ohioans with kidney disease inspire others through their perseverance. Kidney failure, or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), is fatal without a kidney transplant or dialysis, a regular treatment needed to perform the kidney’s function. Like Charlene J. Smith — a dialysis patient and ordained pastor in east Cleveland, Charlene manages her ESRD with dialysis and lives an active lifestyle. The last thing she needs to worry about is covering her expenses. Unfortunately, that’s a reality many patients in Ohio like Charlene face. A recent Supreme ...